Study finds yoga mats could be linked with infertility

Yoga mats are less likely to catch fire thanks to flame retardants, but that might be the same reason why they may mess with your fertility.

A Harvard University study found there may be a link between yoga mats and infertility, thanks to chemicals used in car seats, sofas and other types of polyurethane foam to make it less flammable.

Researchers analyzed urine samples from women undergoing in vitro fertilization at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Centre from 2005 to 2015.

The study revealed the chemicals can migrate from the foam through bodily contact or in the air people breathe.

They found 80 percent of women had traces of the chemical in their urine.

Those with high concentrations of it had a 10 percent reduced probability of successful fertilization and 31 percent reduced probability of implantation of the embryo.

They also had 41 percent less of a chance to achieve pregnancy and were 38 percent less likely to have a live birth.

But don’t freak out. Forbes said the study didn’t look at all factors that could affect women’s fertility and how much these women were exposed to their mats.

They added that the study sampled a very specific location and population and that further research is needed to see how it can affect men.

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Extremely satisfying images of yoga

Schoolchildren attend a yoga session at a camp in Ahmedabad, India January 5, 2017. REUTERS/Amit Dave TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Participants perform yoga during World Yoga Day in New Delhi, India, June 21, 2016. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

School children attend a yoga session on the last day of the 10-day long camp in Ahmedabad, India, January 10, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave

Schoolchildren attend a yoga session at a camp in Ahmedabad, India, January 9, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave

School children attend a yoga session on the last day of the 10-day long camp in Ahmedabad, India, January 10, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave

School children attend a yoga exercise session during a camp in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad January 11, 2011. At least 6,000 children participated, organisers said. REUTERS/Amit Dave (INDIA - Tags: SOCIETY)

Yoga enthusiasts practice yoga at Yueyan Cave during a session organised by a yoga club in Daoxian, Hunan province, China September 11, 2016. Picture taken September 11, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Participants perform yoga during World Yoga Day in New Delhi, India, June 21, 2016. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

People practise yoga together ahead of World Yoga Day in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China, June 20, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.

People practise yoga at a tourist spot ahead of the International Day of Yoga, on the outskirts of Beijing, China, June 20, 2016. China Daily/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.?

Women practice yoga during a performance on a glass bridge at the Shiniuzhai National Geo-park in Pingjiang county, Hunan province, China, November 5, 2015. About hundred yoga fans put on the show to promote the concept of green life and the idea of harmony between human and nature on Thursday, according to local media. REUTERS/China Daily CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.

School children perform yoga before the inauguration of the international kite festival in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad January 12, 2014. REUTERS/Amit Dave (INDIA - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)